Are you an emotional eater? Someone who turns to the fridge whenever feeling mad, sad or stressed? According to Dr. Oz, by taking the Griffonia simplicifolia 5-HTP weight loss supplement you can help gain some control over the serotonin levels in your brain that will make you feel happier, eat less and lose weight.

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“Your appetite is the single biggest reason why you cannot lose weight. What if I told you that there is an all-natural appetite suppressant that is proven to reduce your hunger and help you lose weight?” asks Dr. Oz as he reintroduces the weight loss supplement 5-HTP made from the seeds of a West African shrub known as Griffonia simplicifolia.

In the past, 5-HTP was used to treat mood and sleeping disorders, but according to Dr. Oz new research has shown that it also helps control appetite and is now approved by the FDA as an appetite suppressant medication. 5-HTP works by increasing serotonin levels in the brain that not only elevates mood, but also decreases appetite at the same time.

Dr. Oz points out that one mistake people make is that they believe that it is the hunger pains in the stomach that cause us to eat, when in fact—it has more to do with your brain chemistry and how you are feeling that then turns on certain hormones that drive us to eat carbs and other fat-building foods.

“The hunger you feel comes from the brain. So, there are certain emotions that when they flood the brain they send us into this tailspin. And they are driven by hormones, and trick us into thinking that we are hungry,” says Dr. Oz.

The feelings Dr. Oz refers to are a combination of sadness, depression, anger, anxiety—all stressors of modern day life that affects us all as we try to cram too much into each and every day.

Dr. Oz recommends giving 5-HTP a try by first removing some of the stress of dieting and trying to lose weight. In particular—by stopping the deprivation that many attempt when counting calories and denying themselves certain foods that they crave. Dr. Oz refers to two studies that found that when women took 5-HTP without calorie restricting themselves, that they actually consumed 1,000 calories less per day because the 5-HTP made them feel both better emotionally and fuller physically.

With Dr. Oz is special guest Natalie Azar, M.D. from NYU Medical Center who tells viewers that studies have shown that taking 5-HTP is safe and can result in moderate weight loss.

“We are talking about a half a pound to a pound per week. It’s not a chemical that’s going to boost your metabolism like crazy,” says Dr. Azar. “It’s really about suppressing your appetite, and you are going to be restricting calories. And that down the line is going to result in weight loss.”

According to Dr. Azar, 5-HTP however is not for everyone and should be avoided by people who are already taking antidepressants. Like 5-HTP, many antidepressants work by raising serotonin levels. Therefore, taking 5-HTP could result in serotonin levels rising too high while on antidepressants like Zoloft, Paxil and Prozac.

In the past there have been some concerns about whether taking 5-HTP is really safe citing cases of a fatal flu-like condition associated with taking 5-HTP for weight loss. However, Dr. Azar reassures viewers that the concerns are old news and may have been due to contamination problems in the past.

“If you look at the literature, there really have been no case reports of significant side effects related to the use of 5-HTP,” says Dr. Azar.

Dr. Oz’s guideline for losing weight with 5-HTP is to:

• Take 50 milligrams each time 3 times per day 20 minutes before every meal.

• Use only supplement sources that state “Pure 5-HTP” or “Griffonia simplicifolia” on the label.

• Do not spend too much on this supplement—it should only cost approximately $10-$20 per bottle.

• Make sure you’re taking good quality 5-HTP supplements due to reports of impurities and contaminants causing eosinophilia myalgia syndrome (EMS)―an acute illness that causes intense muscle soreness. According to the Oz Blog, the condition comes from impurities in some L-tryptophan or 5-HTP supplements, but not the L-tryptophan or the 5-HTP themselves. Ask a naturopathic physician, integrative physician or health food specialist for trusted brands of 5-HTP.

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